After
students from several elementary and middle schools learned that about 500
students attending Winston-Salem/Forsyth County schools are homeless,
they decided they wanted to help them by buying books and making blankets.

“It
was our goal at William Roscoe Anderson Recreation Center to purchase books
and blanket kits to make for some of the families,” said Betty
Wallace, who is a school counselor at Sedge Garden Elementary School.

“Students
worked in cooperative teams. Each member had a job, and responsible
decisions had to be made daily, like who will be responsible for measuring,
folding, cutting , tying and knotting those special strings.

“The
packing was another job, as well as inserting those special books for
delivery. Overall, the students learned about team-building, problem-solving
and working cooperatively with a special group of children in mind.”

On
Thursday, Dec. 15, the students presented the blankets and books to Tammi O'Quinn,
the homeless liaison for Project HOPE, which helps students who are homeless.

Christmas came early for Bolton Elementary School first-graders Thursday.

“I told them they were having a special visitor, but I
didn’t tell them who it was,” said Cathy Herron, watching her first-grade class
tearing Christmas paper off Barbie dolls, soccer balls and stuffed animals.
“When they saw it was Santa…”

Under that Santa suit was Chris Vogel, science teacher at
Reagan High School and sponsor of the school’s CARE club. The club members,
about 60 Reagan students, played elves to Vogel’s Santa and handed out brightly
wrapped gifts and stockings full of candy to each Bolton first-grader.

“This is the best day ever,” shouted first-grader Alondra
Salazar-Osequera as she opened up her brand new flute. “I’ve been dying to get
this for Christmas.”

Bolton’s four first-grade teachers provided the CARE club
with a class picture, roster and gift wish for each student. Reagan students
then chose one or two students and used their own money to buy gifts and
stocking stuffers.

About Me

We're here to share good news about people associated with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, to answer questions and to let you share your thoughts about how to make the schools better. If you have something that you would like for others to know about or want to ask a question, please send an email to Kim Underwood